Slot-closing device for coin-controlled vending-machines



A. D. GROVER. sLor CLOSING nzvpcz r03 com coumousn vsnomcmcumas.

APPLICATION FILED-Nov. 2o. IIQIBL'RENEWED ma.v 16; I92l.

Patented Sept 27,1921.

[WEN crR.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' ALBERT -13. GRovfiiz', as i'mviri 'goniz', As sIGNon "io liurboszinns oonionA'iIoN;

A ooRi'oRATIoN OF NEW YORK;

smecmsifia hence its eom-oonwizotnnn vE'nnItT-miomniis,

Specification of I lettei s Patent-ea 2'7,

Apiil ic ation filed n'oi'rei'zibei 2ft, Isis, seen 2631252. Iifiev'ki fe'prflar 16, 1921. Seiieil No. 445,491;

To all whom it 171a oonhew'tk j Beit known th'lt I, AnfiE'IiT D. Gnoynli, a citizen Of the United 2i ie s ii dent of NQW Yo'i'k; in the eeufity' of New; Yo k and'smte Geneva 15am hays invented new' and Improved Slot-Closing Devices for Coin-Conti'olled' Vending-Machines; of Which'the following is at sfoeoificaiti'on. I

My invention relates, to ;3oin-controlled vending machines; z'inditstohject is to prpg Vide means fol: cussing of obstructing the coin-entrance slot f i'oin'the outside of the machine whenever desipe'd; suchmeans: being readily'relnova-ble floin the pieper m'anipulttion. invention isperticu ailj applicable in; com etibn with style of vending ln tchine'jiil whichthe package of goods is contained in zi co inp'iftnient closed at the top by at lid; These machines, Which are of smell dimensiofr'i's end tire usual-1y operated in theaters; ave. one; 61" two com? I pert nents, etch ofwhieh is closed by lid nofmally in locked sp osit'ion." When proper coin is inserted into the c'oin entrance slot find the nie fn'he'i' on the outside operated in the,cpropendii'ctiofi, the lid is unlocked and flies open, thei'eby exposing the'packa'ge-o-f goods foil reniovitl by the purchaser. A machine of thiit, general type is shown in Kelly z VVebstei Patent No. 1,076,769, dated op'tober 2 1913; As will be understood fi'om the disclosure of that patent, when one or: both of the lids" are closed and locked, the c coi'i'espo nding c0in entrance slot 015 slots are open to ec' i-ve the proper coin. But when one of hoth'of the lids are open, thus indiczttin'g that the gases" have been sold; the coi'r es'ponding cbidfi trance slot 01' slots aliie closed against the further deposit of coins Wha ever the open lids are pressed heel;v in'tti closedpos'i' tion and locked, the edit-entrance slots he; come i automatically clkajr 0;- the insertion of coins. But; thefe ii'e' timeswhenit is desirable to haife the lids lpckrljfi clofsd position' elnd yet have the coin-slots closed against the insertion of coins. This occurs when the" compartments die kpvem ty for one reason of another. open under these cifcu'fil'stztncs' would be highly objectionable, because these lids not only form obstructions on which the 610mg ing of persons passing by m he vasily mugm'a d toi n, but they nid gtn ot'fi F machines unsightly and tem t mischletously {re leave the lids inelined persons to fill the open elnfity corn pziitnien'ts with a er" and other. undesirable eating the objects and zidt antiges of my invention, I have shown it sipplied to attend in'g machine of, the type represented by the theater machine o'f the Kelli & Webster p'jttent above' iefe'i'i'ed" to. In the accompenying dmwings Q N Fiure 1 's a plan view of it two-eompart-I ment vending machine provided with a lid for each compartment, oneilid being shown o'pn zind the other closed;

g. 21" 'ectiono I l looking in the direction ofthe el rows, and showing the smeaosmg device of invention in position within the com-passage 51 the machine; p Fig.1 3 is a View sifnilmi toFiglLQ, showing How the slot-Closing device maj be re} moved thi'ough thecoin-entiianee slot mm the outside of the inzichi'ne j Fig. 4 is a section epprox'iinzitely on line 4 4 of Fig: 1' lool'zing in the direction of entrence'slot of the open lid is" closed y ineinber of the coin-controlled mechanism in the inichine; z ind v k i peis ectiVe View of the fire ffoni of nuynew slot-closing device.

e outer casingA of the machine may ferr T be of approved constfucti'on, and in the specifie'instance is pi'ovide d with two chain.- bei's or comfiaftments B and C," ezioh of which is adapted to contii'nfii package ofgoo'ds, v such as, candy and the like. The coinpzil tr nents B {ind C il e closed the lids B an resp ecti ily. These lids ire hinged" on the a at the h'ili of the easand' my be of any approved construction; shownin' the drawings these lids are on the underside provided With a ledge 1, suitably spaced from the body of the lid. f

The ledge lis provided with z notch of slot 2.; The lids and Cf :tfe normally locked in closed position by it pail of slides 8 and 4 hztving ezich a fearwardly extending lug engage the slots 8 of the slides. The plate 6 is provided with a slot 9 through which the lugs 5 of the slides 3 and 4 project forwardly into alinement with the coin-entrance slots of the machine. In Fig. 4 the slide 3 is shown in normal or lid-locking position, while the slide 4 is shown in actuated or lid releasing position. The slide 3 of Fig 4 corresponds to the closed lid C in Fig. '1, while the slide 4 corresponds to' the open lid B. in Fig; 1. When theslide 3 or 4 is in normal position, the locking lug 5 engages the ledge 1 of the associated lid at one side of the recess 2, as shown at the right of Fig. 1. When the slide 3 or 4. is actuated by the lever 10 into releasing position, the l ug 5 is moved into alinement with the slot 2, and the lid flies open under the spring-pressed package in the compartment.

have not deemed it necessary to illustrate the spring support of the package, be cause that feature has nothing to do with my invention and is, moreover, an old contrivance, as shown for instancein the patent to Webster No. 1,080,873 issued Decembeer 9, 1913. i v

The lever 10 is pivoted on the plate 6 by means of the stud 11, and is so arranged that its. upper end operates between the two slides 3 and 4, moving either of those slides from normal or locking position into lidreleasing position. The lever 10 is at its lower end formed with a rearward extension 12 which projects throughthe arc-shaped slot 13 of the plate 6 into the path of move ment of the coin on the coin-carrier 14. This coin-carrier is in the shape ofa disk having a pair of oppositelyarranged coinreceiving recesses 15 and mounted to operate in the coin-passage represented as a whole by P. This coin-passage is formed by are cess in the plate or casting S secured at the front of the machine. The coin-carrier 14 is 'rotatably mounted on this casting by Ineansof a stud 16, and is operatively con nected with a hand-wheel or knob 17 on the outside of the casing. The irregularly shaped coin-passage P branches out at the top and forms the two coin-entrance slots p and 72 through which the coins are inserted into the machine. I

Since the coin-controlled mechanism here-- in illustrated has nothing to do with my present invention, I have not deemed it neressary to illustrate and describe in detail the action of the coin in engaging the extension 12 of the lever 10, because that feature is clearly set forth in the Kelly & Webster patent No. 1,076,769, previously referred to.

The casting S also carries a pair of slidable side latches 18 and 19 which-are normally heldin uppermost. position by the springs 20. Each of the si de latches '18 and 19 is provided with a cam extension 21 arranged in the path of the coin on the coincarrier 14. When the coincarrier is rotated with a proper coin, the latter strikes the cam projection21 and depresses the slide 18 or'19, thereby permitting further rotation of the coin-carrier until the edge of the coin strikes the extension 12 of' the actuating lever 10. When this occurs, the upper end of the lever 10 moves against one or the other ofthe slides 3 and l and pushes the-same into lid-releasingposition. It will be seen from Figs. 1 and'4: that when the slide 3 or 4 is hr lid-closing position, the lug 5 rests in the groove or channel 22 of the casting S and is thus out of slot-closing position. In other words, as long as the lid 13' or C is closed, the h1g5 of the associated slide 3 end is outof'operative position and the coin-entranceslot is clear for; the insertion of a coin. But,iwhen the slide 3 or 4 is actuated into lid-releasing position, 7 the lug 5 extends into the associated" coin-passage and thereby. closes the coin-entrance slot against the insertion of a coin. This slotclosing position of the lug 5 is shown at the left of Fig. 1 and at the right of Fig. 4.

The function of the spring pressed latches 18. and 19 is. to lock the slides3 and 4 against movement bythe. lever 10 when the latches arein normal; or uppermost position. As this feature forms no part of my invention-I have not considered it necessary to illustrate ordescribe the same in detail, particularly as it is fully setyforth in the Kelly 6: Webster; Patent No. 1,076,769",'to which reference hasbeen previously made. i

It will be .clearfrom the foregoing that as long as the lids B and G are closed, the coin-slots are. open for the insertion of coins. On the other hand, as long as one or both of the lids are open, one or both ofthe coin-slots are closed against theinsertion of coins. It should here be stated that the slides 3 and 4 are not spring-actuated, but are passire-that is to say, they remain in actuatedposition until reset into normal or lid-locking position by a special key from the outsideoi the-casing. So that, when a. compartment isernpty, the lid remains thrown back in open position until an authorized attendant inserts a key and pushes the slide 3 01 4 back into locking position while holding the lid pressed down. The resetting key engages the lateral projection 23of the slide3or 4. There is an opening (not shown) each side .of the casting Sin alinement with the resetting lug 23 in each slide. The lids B and C are heldin open position bysuitable spring mechanism which I do not deem it neces sary to shower describe, and I mention it here merely to show why the lids remain thrown back in openposition until reset by the. attendant. Now, circumstances. may arise which ,it is desirable unnecessary to leave;certainmachines empty for a period of time. For instance, there may be a temporary shortage in thesu'pply of the confections sold in the machines, so that it is impossible to replenish the machines. Or, it may be desirable to remove the goods tem porarily from' themachines, as during the hot months during which the confections .melt or otherwise deteriorate in the machines. Or, again, a theater maybe closed for a limited period. In these instances, it'

does not'pay to remove the empty machines temporarily from the theater chairs. To leave the machines empty with the lids thrown back, has been found to be objectionable for several reasons. In the first place the machines are unsightly, and the theater manager'sobject to them on that account. The owners of the machines have found that when machines are left empty with the lids thrown back, people fill up the open, empty compartments with paper and other material, which it is exceedingly diflicult to remove when the machines are again placed in operation. Then again,lids that are left thrown back form an obstruction on which the clothing of people pass ing by is caught and torn.

tively closing the slot against the insertion of coins. This device is wholly within the coin-p'assage of the machine and is locked against removal by anyone who does not understand the particular way of m'anipu lating it into unlocked position. In its sim- V plest and preferred form, this slot-closing is thus practically hidden fromfview device is of metal and substantially rectangular in form, one edge being beveled. Vl liere--there is a magnet in the .machine, such as is used for arresting magnetic slugs, my new slot closing device is preferably of magnetic material, so that the magnet may hold. it firmly in locking positionv within the casing. Referring to the specific embodiment of my invention, as illustrated in the drawings, the slot-closing device is shown in the form of a rectangular piece of metal K, one edge ofwhich is preferably beveled, as indicated at 24. When the member K is inserted into one of the coin-entrance slots (as in the slot p in Fig. 2), it assumes, or is readily manipulated to as sume, the position shown in Fig. 2. It will be seen from that figure, that the member K lies entirely within the coin-passage aiIid n inserting the member K into the machine,

the beveled edge 24 should be on top. This renders the member K more difficult to be seen and more difiicult to remove. As will be clear from Fig. 2, when properly insorted, the slot-closing device K is locked within the machine, due to the fact that one edge of the member engages the pro jection 25. When it is attempted to turn the coin-carrier in the direction indicated. by the arrow as in Fig. 2, the point 14 of the coin-carrier strikes the member K beyond the center thereof and so forces the same against the-projection 25 and against the point 26 of the casting S. The point 26 formspart'of the wall of the coin-passage which is formed in the casting Sp When the coin-carrier is turned in the opposite direction, the point14" of the coin-carrier forces the member K against the point 26' of the casting. Thus, it will be seen that the member K is effectively locked within the coinpassage of the machine and also looks the coin-carrier against rotation, except fora limited amount of movement. It will further be apparent from Fig; 2 that only one slot-closing member is necessary to close both coin-slots of the machine. For, while the member K closes the coin-slot in which it is inserted, the coin-carrier 14 is in such a position that it closes t ,ie other slot against the insertion of coins. Thisis' clear from Fig. 2, where the dotted circle N indicates the position of a coin attempted to be insorted,- The coin? N rests on the circular periphery 14 of the coimcarrier and may be withdrawn by hand.

'rhe removal of the slot closing member K is a very simple matter when a person knows how to do it. All that is necessary is to insert a tool into the closedcoin-slot and press it gently down on the upper edge 24: of the member KI at a point approxi mately as indicated in Fig. 3, where the inserted tool is represented by the dotted lines T. This downward pressure on the.

member K causes the same to be tilted in such a way that the corner 70 thereof is moved out of engagement with the locking projection 25.. It will be understood that when this rocking or tnrning of themember K takes place, the coin-carrier 14 has been manipulated from the exact position shown in Fig. 2 to 'a position in which the point M is slightly below the lower edge of" the memberK, so as to give the latter a chance to rock out of locking position. "As soon as the member K is manipulated into unlocking position, the coin-carrier l Lis turned inthe direction indicated by the arrow w in Fig. 3, which causes the point 14: of the ,coin-carrier'to push the'memberK out of thecoin-slot'p. The projecting portion of the member K may then be grasped by the fingers and the member moved. f

Where the machine in which my "slot closing det ice is used contains a magnet which is employed for coin-testing purposes, it is desirable that the member K be of magnetic material. In the machine shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, there is a magnet M mounted on the casting S in such position that the poles thereof extend in close proximity to the coin-passage, whereby magnetic slugs are attracted to the magnet. It will not be necessary to describe here in detail the coin-testing function of the magnet M, since that forms no part of my present invention and since, furthermore, the magnetic coin-testing mechanism of which the magnet M is a partis fully disclosed in Grover & Barber Patent No. 1,180,713, dated April 25, 1916. It is sufficient to say here that when the member K is of magnetic material and is inserted into either one of the coin-slots p or 9 the poles of the mag net M hold the member K in stationary position. This prevents rattling of the member K when the coin-carrier 14 is oscillated. Such rattling would be objectionable in a theater, and would moreover let the public know that there was something loose in the coin-slot. The result of this would be that many persons would try to get that rattling piece of metal out of the machine. But, with the member K held stationary by the magnet M, a person attempting to rotate the knob 17 on the outside of the machine would simply find that the machine was locked, without being given any indication. of how it was locked.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a very simple and effective means for locking the slots when the lids of the machines are closed. All that the attendant has to do in order to lock the slots when the lids are closed is to insert a member K in either one of the slots of each machine. When it again becomes necessary or desirable to put the machines in operative condition, the attendant need only remove the inserted members K to clear the coinslots. By a skilled person this may be done very quickly.

Although I have shown and described my invention as applied to a vending machine of the lid type, it is obvious that it is not limited to that particular type of machine, although it finds a peculiar usefulness in that connection.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a coin-controlled vending machine, a casing having a compartment for containing the vendible package, a normally closed lid for said compartment, said casing being provided with a coin-entrance slot which is open when the lid is closed, coin-controlled me h lli m. for open s ai d, sa d eqhw nism including means for automatically closmg said coin-entrance slot when the lid is open, and a member constructed to be fnllyginserted into said coin-entrance slot when the lid is closed, whereby said slot is closed against the insertion of a coin, said member being readily adjustable in said slot to cause a portion thereof to project out of r loading from said slot to said coin-carrier,

mechanism controlled by the coin in said car ricr for openingsaid lid, said mechanism including means. for automatically closing said slot when the lid is open, saidmeans being out of slot-closing position when the lid is closed, a projection in said coin-pas sage, and a member constructed to be fully inserted through said. slot into said coin passage to close said slot and lock said coincarrier, said member being'adaptedto engage said projection and thereby become locked in said passage but being-readily moved out ofengagement with said projection, whereupon said'coin-carrier may be operated to project said member out of said slot for removal. I

3. In a coin-controlled vending machine, a casing having two compartments for the vcndible packages anda coinentrance slot for each compartment, a normally closed lid for each compartment,a hand-operable coin-cz-n'rier for receiving thedeposited coin, therebeing a coin-passage leading from each slot to said coin-carrier, a projection in each coin-passage, mechanism controlled by the.

coin in said carrier for. unlocking the lid corresponding to the slot through which the coin is inserted, said mechanism including means for automatically closing one or both coin-entrance slots when one or both lids are open, said means being out of slot-010s ing position for either slot when the correspondinglid is closed, and a member constructed to be inserted fully through either slot into the corresponding coin-passage and to engage the'projection in said passage, wherebysaid' member is locked in said passage to close the associated coinentrance slot and lock the coin-carrier, the other slot being closed against the insertion of a coin by said locked coin-carrier, said member being readily'moved out of engagement with said projection, whereupon said coin-carrier,

may be operated to project said memberout of the slot for removal. r

at. In a coin-controlled vending machine, a casing having a compartment for containing the vendible package, a normally closed s iswarmest; ar -creams coin-carrier, said casing being provided with a coin-entrance slot and with a coin-passage leading from said slotv to said coin-carrier, mechanism controlled by the coin in said carrier for opening said lid, said mechanism including means for automatically closing said slot when the lid is open, said means being out of slot-closing ,position when the lid is closed, a projection in said coin-passage, a magnet having its poles in close proximityto said coin-passage, and a magnetic member constructed to be fully inserted through said slot into said coinpassage to close said slot and lock said coincarrier, said member being adapted to engage said projection when acted upon by the coin-carrier and thus become locked in said passage, said magnet holding the magnetic member firmly in locked position but permitting adjustment of the member out of engagement with said projection, whereupon the coin-carrier may be operated to project the unlocked member out of the coinentrance slot for removal.

5. In a coin-controlled vending machine,

a casing provided with a coin-entrance slot,

a rotatable coin-disk for receiving the deposited coin and carrying the same into operative position, and a substantially rectangular member constructed to be inserted fully into said slot to close said slot and lock said disk against rotation, said member being locked within the casing but being readily adjustable from the outside into unlocked position, whereupon said disk may be operated to project said member through said slot for removal. p

6. In a coin-controlled vending machine, a casing provided with a coin-entrance slot, a hand-operab1e coin-carrier for receiving the deposited coin and carrying the same into operative position, and a member constructed to be inserted fully into said slot to close said slot and lock said coin-carrier against operation, said member being locked within the casing but being readily adjustable from the outside into unlocked position, whereupon said coin-carrier may be operated to project said member through said slot for removal.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 12 day of November, 1918.

ALBERT D. GROVER. 

